Tissue adhesive hydrogels that promote wound closure and tissue regeneration are attractive materials for potential clinical applications with minimally invasive surgery. To support tissue functions, the mechanical properties of hydrogels are required to match those of applied tissues, especially tissues requiring frequent extension and contraction. Hydrogels also need to adapt their shapes and match the curvature of target tissues to achieve strong adhesion and allow cell infiltration. However, traditional patch-based hydrogels cannot match the complex tissue surface structures, while injectable hydrogels are normally brittle and weak. Here, we developed an injectable tough hydrogel that exhibits strong adhesion to multiple tissues and can be practically used for muscle regeneration. The gelatin-based hydrogel containing dynamic covalent imine crosslinks is viscoelastic and highly deformable, therefore can be easily injected through needles while still maintain high elastic modulus and toughness. Free benzaldehydes on the hydrogel rapidly bridge between hydrogel and tissue by reacting with amines on the tissue surface, resulting in strong yet dynamic adhesion, which is a few times higher than using commercial products. These hydrogels also self-heal rapidly after fracture, allowing multiple use without significantly sacrificing the performance. Applying these injectable hydrogels as tissue adhesives for muscle regeneration dramatically accelerated the muscle fiber formation after injury.

Injectable tough hydrogels with strong tissue adhesion for muscle regeneration

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